עברית
Cycling For A Life
Eliram Elimelekh, Instructor, the northern hostel for youth in care, Tiberias
A very special cycling trip, from Tiberias to Eilat, will take place from 23.4 to 8.5.08 to celebrate Israel’s 60th birthday.
“When the spirit is willing, the body can do it” is the slogan of this trip. “We believe that it is important to give our youth physical and mental challenges in order to develop their ability to cope with their substance abuse and return to normative life,” says the director.
The cyclists will set out from the hostel in Tiberias and cycle 40-70 kms on most days; Tuesdays and Fridays will be shorter days and Shabbat, Saturday, will be a day of rest.
This trip is part of the 14-18 year-old youngsters’ rehabilitation program, part of their rich and varied outdoor program. They will sleep out, prepare their own food, and learn how to fix and maintain their bikes and navigate. Each one will work towards their own personal goals.
This trip follows a previous outdoor challenge that the Tiberias hostel undertook with great success: a 6-week survival in the desert project that proved to be a formative turning point in the therapeutic experience of the youths who took part.
The goals of this cycling trip:
1. Group cohesion and belonging: the group includes new intakes
2. Self awareness of individual in a group, place in group, contribution to group
3. Empowerment of each youth, coping with physical and mental challenge as part of the experience of success in the hostel, which is the hostel’s model for rehabilitation: small successes are the stepping stones to long-term success.
a) Increased self-esteem through self development, initiative, belief in oneself, socialization
b) Increased mental strength through discovery of self potential
4. Familiarity with the countryside. Many of the youths are immigrants who do not know the countryside.
5. Cleanliness: being physically clean of drugs/alcohol is the first step to removing the mental dependence on such substances; the youngsters’ rehabilitation starts with their bodies. A healthy spirit in a healthy body.
6. A learning process focused on concentration and persistence in pursuing the chosen goal.
7. Fund raising for continuing the youths’ regular Tuesday outdoor activity.
The hostel in Tiberias is appointed by Israel’s Welfare Ministry Youth in Care department and run by a non-profit organization for 14-18 year old youth at risk from all over the country who have a drug or alcohol problem, have truanted, and engaged in antisocial activities. Each youngster arrives at the hostel by court order for a period of at least 18 months, during which he is given a personal program according to his special needs and talents.
The Bikes-4-All staff wish the hostel youngsters a successful trip!
Thanks to Neviot for sponsoring this trip.